Protection of Human Rights is Priority of Estonian Foreign Policy

05.11.2012

Nr 395-E

At his meetings in New York with representatives of African, Asian and Latin-American countries to the UN, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that Estonia’s first-time candidature to the UN Human Rights Council is a continuation of Estonia’s increasingly active participation in the UN.

“Promoting and protecting human rights is a priority of Estonia’s domestic and foreign policy,” Paet noted.

Paet said that if Estonia is chosen to be a member of the UN Human Rights Council, it will focus a great deal of attention on the rights of women and children, the fight against impunity, gender equality, the rights of indigenous peoples, and the protection of freedom of expression.

Foreign Minister Paet said that Estonia is open for dialogue with all the UN member states. “As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, we would like to continue constructive cross-regional co-operation like we have had in the past as the member of UN bodies and the facilitator of many UN processes,” he added.

Paet highlighted the fact that Estonia has led the UN General Assembly committees in charge of economic, social, development and humanitarian affairs, has been the vice president of the UN Economic and Social Council, and led negotiations related to UN development aid reform and gender equality. “Currently Estonia is a member of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and a member and vice president of the UN Children’s Fund, as well as a member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and the UN Population Fund,” he added.